The Nanyang Kingdom’s commandery seat was in Luyang, not far from Xi’e County, but not close either.

Zhao Hanzhang led a hundred guards in rapid march, arriving outside the city gates past noon on the second day.

They reined in their horses on a hillside. Zhao Hanzhang’s head and face were covered, revealing only her eyes. There was no help for it—it was too cold!

They looked down from their elevated position at the city gate not far away. Qiu Wu and the scouts trotted up and reported, “Miss, we’ve checked. Entering and leaving the city gates without carrying goods doesn’t require strict inspection, but if we enter with so many men and horses, we’ll definitely attract attention.”

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought before saying, “Leave three riders outside. The rest will break into smaller groups and enter the city separately. Qiu Wu, you select fifty riders to follow me into the city.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang removed her helmet. The group changed out of their armor in the forest. Ting He untied a bundle she carried, pondered for a moment, then took out a veil and wrapped it around Zhao Hanzhang as a large face covering.

A moment later, Zhao Hanzhang had only her two eyes showing, but unlike the earlier martial bearing, now she looked pretty and lively, clearly a young lady from a wealthy household.

Ting He thought for a moment, then undid half her hair to let it cascade down, “Miss, ready.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, leapt onto her horse with a flying motion. Qiu Wu had also selected his men. Everyone had put away their armor, dressed in plain clothes as they mounted their horses and solemnly followed Zhao Hanzhang down the hillside.

The remaining people waited until Zhao Hanzhang’s group had gone far before beginning to divide into groups and scatter, each having to find their own way into the city.

In these chaotic times, wealthy household masters traveling would bring guards, but being able to bring fifty riders all at once was rare—in Yuzhou, you could count them on one hand.

Therefore, seeing from afar a young lady on horseback leading fifty riders approaching, the gate guards instinctively tensed their spines.

When they drew near, they saw the leader was a young lady with her face veiled. Though pretty, her gaze was cold. No one dared look too long—their gazes touched and immediately moved away. Instead, it was the maid behind her who looked like a servant, quite fierce. Seeing them look over, she glared back viciously and shouted, “What are you looking at? Hurry and move aside. If my young lady catches cold, I’ll hold you responsible.”

The gate soldiers immediately lowered their heads, but still dutifully blocked their path. Their gazes swept over the guards behind them, seeing each carried weapons, their mounts were well-trained and robust, making them even more cautious and careful, “Who are you, where do you come from, and what business brings you to our Luyang?”

He added, “This is routine questioning.”

Qiu Wu lightly kicked his horse forward two steps, chin slightly raised arrogantly, “We are the Xiping Zhao Clan, passing through Nanyang Kingdom on our way to Xiangyang. This is our Fifth House’s young lady. Will you let us pass now?”

Ordinary soldiers wouldn’t know which young ladies the Zhao Clan’s Fifth House had.

But currently in Yuzhou, the Xiping Zhao Clan was indeed the most prominent family. No, they had been very powerful before, but now everyone was even more reluctant to provoke them.

The soldiers didn’t hesitate this time and directly stepped aside.

Zhao Hanzhang kicked her horse and entered.

The soldiers watched them enter the city. When they had disappeared, one said, “Quickly go tell the colonel that a noble lady from the Xiping Zhao Clan has arrived.”

The colonel was hiding in the tower keeping warm. Hearing this, he sat up straight, “Which noble lady? What’s she here for? Where did she go now?”

“They said she’s from the Fifth House’s young lady, going to Xiangyang and passing through our Nanyang Kingdom. She should have gone to an inn by now?”

The colonel relaxed back into his seat upon hearing this and waved dismissively, “So she’s just passing through—what’s the big deal?”

He snorted, “There are so many people in the Zhao Clan. Do I have to care about every one who passes through? In the future, unless they’re here on official business, there’s no need to report.”

The soldier acknowledged and withdrew.

Zhao Hanzhang and her group didn’t go to an inn but found an empty mansion to enter. Inside, spider webs were thick—clearly no one had lived here for a long time.

Zhao Hanzhang casually pushed open a door, waving away the floating dust as she found a place to sit, “Have the scouts bring everyone here.”

Qiu Wu acknowledged and made arrangements.

Ting He brought water bags and dry rations. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang eating hard steamed buns with cold water made her heart ache. She glanced outside, “Miss, let me go buy some things.”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, “Best to keep a low profile now. Stay here and don’t go out.”

Ting He could only comply.

As the sky gradually darkened, the scattered scouts finally brought everyone back. The hundred men reassembled in this empty mansion. Scouts had already mapped out Pei He’s residence.

Zhao Hanzhang crouched on the ground studying it for a while, tapping one side with her stick, “Enter from here—it’s closest to his study.”

“Will he be in his study at this time?”

“Calculating the time, news of us entering Xi’e County should have reached him by now. He’ll definitely be in his study handling matters.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Let’s eat, then move as soon as it gets dark.”

The weather was too cold. Having just had a heavy snowfall the day before, everyone was even less willing to move about outside.

So once night fell, the entire Commandery Administrator’s mansion quieted down. Aside from occasional servants, only the patrolling guards would move about outside.

But the guards didn’t want to linger outside either. They would hurry past, then hide back in their rooms.

Especially now that night had just fallen, they felt no thief would be bold enough to come to the Commandery Administrator’s mansion.

So after they passed by, they immediately hid inside their rooms and even closed the doors and windows tightly.

When Zhao Hanzhang’s group nimbly climbed over the wall, they could still hear arguing inside, “Open the window a crack—there’s charcoal burning in the room.”

“Then you come sit by the window…”

“How nice for you! Last night it was me sitting by the window…”

Zhao Hanzhang’s toes touched the ground as she swiftly circled past that room and leapt onto the corridor.

Here the view was open and very quiet—clearly no one was around.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t panicked. She even adjusted her sleeves before strolling leisurely toward the study as if touring her own courtyard.

Qiu Wu and three guards followed behind. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang walk so calmly and composed, cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

Speaking of which, how did she know to turn left? Right, what did the map show this area was called? Where exactly was the study?

Before he could figure it out, Zhao Hanzhang had already gently pushed open a window and hoisted herself over to flip inside.

Qiu Wu: …

His eyes widened as he hurried to follow.

Zhao Hanzhang landed lightly. She looked down at where her feet had landed—this was a wooden couch by the window.

Her shoes had been used for riding today, walking through snow and mud, climbing walls and stepping on roof tiles. You could say they were as dirty as could be.

She silently apologized before stepping down to the floor.

This appeared to be an inner rest room. Besides this large wooden couch, only a nearby shelf held a water basin, cloth towels and such. Positioned before the couch were two massive screens joined together.

At this moment, shadows were projected on the screens—it looked like one person sitting while two stood.